During his initial year (1833) at Harvard College, Henry Thoreau was subjected to a “thorough course” of “Plane Trigonometry, Analytic Geometry, and Algebra with practical application to Heights and Distances, and Surveying and Navigation.”

This course on navigation is still being offered and happens now to be the longest continuously running subject-matter offered there! “It’s the most practical course you can take at Harvard,”

According to Dan Justicz ’91, alum, “You find your way by watching the movements of the sun and stars. You even construct your own navigation instruments. There’s a minimum of lecturing.”

Description: Never be lost again! Find your way on sea, land, or air by employing celestial and terrestrial techniques. Acquire expertise in using navigators’ tools (sextant, compass, and charts) while learning the steps to the celestial dance of the sun, moon, stars, and planets. This 108-year-old course (1905?) continues to rely on practical skills and collaborative problem-solving, while utilizing historical artifacts (instruments, maps, captains’ logs) and student-built devices. Culminating in a day-long cruise to practice navigation skills.

Credits: Half course

Location: Observatory A Building A-101, Observatory D Building Phillips Auditorium

Allan H. Schmidt formerly Executive Director of the Harvard Laboratory for Computer Graphics and a specialist in research, development and use of geographic information systems recently has explored the application of such technology to historical data. He also serves as Chairman of The Mill Brook Task Force, a subcommittee of Concord’s Natural Resources Commission.